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6 ROOF COATINGS 2017 COATINGSPROMAG.COM
By Ben DuBose
Photos Courtesy of FLIR Systems, Inc., Gaco Western, e Garland
Company, Inc., KARNAK, Kemper System America, Inc., Lapolla
Industries, Inc., Polyurethane Machiner y Cor p., R ooftop
Equipment, Inc., and Rust-Oleum.
Coating Systems Bring
New Life to Existing
Roofs
A
ny coating job can prove to be challenging,
but applying protective coatings and/or spray
polyurethane foam (SPF) systems to a roof
presents new layers of complexity for a contractor.
Exposure to outside elements, heights, and, in some cases,
slope brings a wide range of unique challenges, ranging from
safety considerations to inspections, standards, application
and material choices, environmental impacts, and more.
To address these concerns, CoatingsPro spoke with a
number of roofing experts to get the inside scoop on best
tips, products, and practices. Read on for details on what can
be done to maximize the efficiency and success of a rooftop
coatings and/or SPF application project.
Considerations Unique to Roofing
Despite the challenges, roof coatings continue to surge in
popularity due, in large part, to environmental and economic
benefits when compared to a full roof replacement. "e resto-
ration side of the market has grown more because the ability
to improve a roof and coat it and do restoration is a lot less
expensive than to do a total rework job," said Dan Gibbons,
brand manager at Rust-Oleum.
"Decision-makers are realizing that restoring a roof with
a high-quality coating is more cost-effective in the long-term
than either reroofing or applying a lower quality coating,"
added Tom Stuewe, senior product manager at e Garland
Co. "e increased growth in the coatings market supports
the trend of facility managers continuing to more proactively
invest in their roof assets. Industry experts suggest that more
than 80 percent of roofs are replaced prematurely."
In addition, new technologies are enabling the develop-
ment of roofing systems with environmental benefits that
were not previously available, according to Bob Burns, presi-
dent of product development at Rooftop Equipment. "ere's
a good future for the roof coatings market, considering the
desire to not tear off [roofs] and fill landfills," he said. "I think
coatings are going to continue to increase in their market
share, and I think the quality of coatings is going to keep
improving as well."
W hile specifications will vary based on each building
owner's preferences, a number of common themes do exist.
First and foremost, because roof coating systems are largely
Roof Coatings
Despite the challenges, roof coatings continue to surge in
popularity due, in large part, to environmental and economic
benefits when compared to a full roof replacement.
Roof coatings offer an alternative to reroofing. "There's a good future
for the roof coatings marketing, considering the desire to not tear off
[roofs] and fill landfills," Rooftop Equipment President Bob Burns
said.